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@inittab tatrs dem-eat @fitta THEODULE JOSEPH VITE BOZ, OF PARIS, FRANCE. Letters Patent No. 64,371, dated April 30, 1887.

IMPRGVEMENT IN PIANO-PORTES.

TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN;

Be it known that I, THEODULE JOSEPH VITE Roz, of' Paris, in the Empire of France, have invented and made certain new and useful improvements in Piano-Fortes and in key-boards for piano-fortes, or other similar instruments.

My invention consists in an orphean piano, with elementary, solfeggio, transposing, and accompanying key-boards, divided into graduated classes, or separate progressive degrees for the instruction of the pianoforte or organ. The large key-board, which is also fitted with transposing and accompanying movements, forms the last class. Y

My improved key-boards are applicable to all instruments with piano key-boards, whether horizontal or vertical, such as grand, square, upright, oblique, and half-oblique piano-fortes and organs; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the said invention, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making part of this specification, wherein- Figure 1, plate 1, is a vertical section of my improvement, seen from the bass part ofthe instrument.

The first part of my invention relates to the construction of the back or bottom of the piano, in which I employ round columns or braces within the frame, parallel with the strings. In

Figure 2, plate 2, I have shown a front view ofthe strings and frame; and in Figure 3, a bach View ofthe frame.

In these are represented five round columns I", on which are xed, by bolts and screws, an iron frame, a and its iron bars A, parallel with the correspondii'ig columns F. On the said frame are fixed the piano-strings, attached by the hitch-pins on the plate a, and turning-pin on the rest-plank a. An iron bar, 6, is fixed diagonally by bolts on the iron frame a, and fonms a resistance to the draught of the covered strings of the bass indicated by red lines, the other strings being indicated by blue lines. This bar 6 is shown in aseparate side view at b b, below iig. 2. a t is the false sounding-board; C a false wooden frame, to which the sounding-board is glued. I The columns F and bars A, running in the same direction as the strings, sustain the frame and prevent the tension of the strings changing the shape of the back of the piano; and the columns F being round do not present any angles which obstruct the vibrations from the strings as they pass out at the back of the instrument. The ends of the columns F are to be square, so as to join inV the surrounding frame F. I make use of dampers B in the sides, back, or top of the case, actuated by means of pedals, to give expression to the instrument, by enabling the performer to regulate the sound passing out ofthe instrument.

Second, in the piano action. Fig. 1, plate 1, the lever OX is placed under the escapement of the hammer action, and xed at one end by a fork to the action bar, and at the other to a lifter, o, connected to the lever O', fixed by a fork on a frame. Figures a 6 e 'd ef, plate 1, illustrate modifications in the positions and arrangement of the levers for communicating motion from the keys to the' hammer. These are arranged with reference to the keys coming above the action in the bass, and below theaction in the treble, the line of the hammers being curved, and lowest atthe bass end. The keyd, figs. a Z7 and c, platel, might act directly upon the lever D2, the lever O being removed. By this arrangement- 'of the lover OX, lifter o, and lever O, I am enabled to provide for the introduction of the key-boards hereafter described, one set of key-boards being moved away from beneath the lever O', and another key-board turned into place.

The third part of my invention relates to a transposing or movable key-board, which allows of raising or lowering the tones according to the position of the key-board to the piano action.

Plate 9, is a plan view, showing at the right-hand end the keys of the large key-board, and at the left-hand end thc-sc keys nre removed to show the piano-action key-board, and the diagonal levers forming the accompanying key-board. At the right-hand part the keys 1 are shown in the frame H, (see also in fig. 5, plate 2,) placed above the piano-action key-board 4. Under the front end of the keys 1 are fixed regulating screws, acting on the keys of the key-board 4, at thc back end of which are fixed levers 1S, corresponding to the lever O for the bass, and OX for the medium and treble notes. I support the key-board 1 on anti-friction supports J, formed of two grooved pulleys, placed in a mortise, made in a wood o1' metal piece, secured at the hind cross-piece of the transposing frame Il', and between which pulleys passes the shaft L', which is fixed in the supports K, fixed to the frame 5 of the action key-board 4, and supports the back part of the transposing key-board. A pulley, 9, is placed in the front G of the bottom of the key-boards, (sec fig. 5,) the axle of which pulley passes through the front G, and receives a xed or movable winch 9". On the said pulley a cord, 16, or its equivalent, is wound. The said cord is attached at one end to the transposing frame H', by a ringscrew, and to the other side to an adjusting thumb-screw 1. i Under thefront of the transposing key-boardis fixed a pin that enters in a metal plat-e, 17, bored with holes corresponding to'each tone. The saidplate is iiXed on the edge of the -front G', in which also the pulley is iixed. A knob, 10, iXed to the front H ofthe transposing key-board is used for raising in order to lift the pin out of the plate 17, while the key-board is moved endwise by means of the winch 9, so aste place the keys in any .desired position to the action, and thereby transpose it at pleasure.

Figures 6 and 61 are elevations of the anti-friction supporting rollers and shaft L.

Fourth. I make use of a range of levers placed diagonally to the keys and reaching to the corresponding octave notes above and below the centre octavcs of the piano; these are brought into action by a pedal, so that the corresponding octave notes above or below arc struck by depressing the one note, thereby increasing the volume of sound. These diagonal levers I term the accompanying key-board; the saidkey-board is placed underneath the pianeaction key-board 4, and pivoted by hinges 11, fixed on the front G', (see plate 1, tig. 1, and plate 3, iig. 9.) The levers forming the accompanying key-board diverge diagonally from the centre of the piano so as to divide the same in two parts: one acts on the bass, andthe other on the treble notes. A lever, R, is fitted to the piano-case,

and connected to a pedal by a rod s; this lever is employed to raise the back of the frame 7 ofthe accompanying key-board G, and bring it into a position to be acted upon by the action key-board 4, under which keys 4 the litters 12 are placed through the front and back cross-pieces of the frame 5, and correspond with each key of the accompanying key-board 6. The keys 4 act on the front ends ef the keys G through the lifters 12, and said keys 6, being diagonal to the right or left, act under and raise the keys 4 an octave above or below the note struck; the lifters 12, beneath the back ends of said key 4, communicating the movement which is transmitted by the lever 1S and movements 0 and O to the hammer-jackgV and it will be evident that the key 4, which is raised at its back end an octave oii, acts through the lifter at its front end upon another diagonal key, parallel to the first, and causes the corresponding note of the third octave oil' to be struck, so that all the corresponding octave notes on the piano, in the bass or treble part, can be struck by the depression of one key. In consequence of this movement 1 name it the accompanying key-board. l

It will be evident that the diagonal lever 6, instead of acting on the key 4 an octave off, might only act upon the hammer-jack, so that only the note and its corresponding octave note, one note away, will b'e struck. The left-hand part, plate 3, iig. 9, shows the accompanying key-board 6, on which an octave of the action keyboard 4 is shown to represent its position relatively to the accompanying key-board 6. The key-boards 1, 4, and 6, are mounted in the cabinet-work or case 8 and G', and this is attached to the piano-ease by pivots at 13, so that it can be turned up, as seen in iig. 1, or turned down; ythe arcs C2 show the path described in moving this up or down.

The fifth part of my invention relates to a key-boardcontaining the same number of notes, but each note is made smaller than those of the main key-board, so as to be adapted to the smaller hands of children; the keys communicating with the same notes as these of the main key-board. provide three or more of these keyboards, increasing in length, as seen in plate 5, iig. 13, so as to form a series of key-boards adapted to dill'ereiit ages of pupils. y

Figure 11, plate 4, shows an octave ot' an ordinary key-board, and represents the corresponding notes in the smaller key-boards 1, 2, 3, and 4.

Plate 1, iig. 1.. D1 dotted line,.showing the path described by the compartment, in which are fixed several elementary keyboards as it is turned up or down.

Plate 3, Figure 10, is a plan of one of my elementary key-boards, as drawn out for use. The right-hand halt` of said key-board shows the keys; at the`left they are removed to shown the position ofthe levers K that are employed to form, with this diminished key-board, the accompanying key-board to strike the corresponding octave notes as aforesaid. This iig. 10 also illustrates the before-described apparatus `for transposing the keys relatively to the notes. The keys C3 are placed in a frame, 112, sustained by the frame G3 and slides T. Under each key C3 is ixed a regulating-screw acting on a counter-key, D, placed below, fixed by forks at its front end, and on the back ends of said keys are ixed pins above a triangular piece, E, running lengthwise under the key-boards, and pivoted at its ends on the sides of the frame H2. A stop, H H, is placed in front of thc key-board C, connected to the triangular piece E, to move the same and raise the counter-keys D, to facilitate the drawer T being drawn out.A The said elementary key-board C is placed `above the key-board 1, correspending to the piano action, which keys 1 are more or less diagonal according to the size of the elementary key-board. The frame J1 of the key-board 1 is fixed to the sides U of the cabinet work; the drawer T above described, slides in the cabinet-work u. The keys C3 of the elementary key-board act on the counter-keys D, which, by the knob, act on the keys 1 of the action key-board, and at their extremity are fixed levers M, acting under the movements O for the bass, and O for the medium and treble notes, in the same inanner as the levers 4, illustrated on plate 1, figs: a I) c CZ e andf. 13 bar behind the sha1-ps, fixed to the sides of the frame H2, under which theguide-pins are iixcd. I make usc of a rule on which is engraved, lithographed, or

printed, the key-board tableau, corresponding with the notes on their musical scale, for helping the learner to find on the key-board the notes marked on the music.

Figure 12', plate 4, represents the middle octave of this printed tableau.A I apply this to either the bar B or B1, iig. 1, as illustrated at B3, iig. 12 and iiglx. 1t is fixed by hinges and can be more or less inclined by :i rack on the bar 131. The keys t' have beneath the front end regulating screws acting on thekeys of the accompanying key-board K, placed below the frame Jl of the key-board I, and the -keys Kl by litters placed in the hind cross piece of the frame Jl, raise beneath the back end the keys I an octave above or below. This accompanying kcy-boardrK fitted in the same manner as the key-board G, before described. The left-hand part of fig, 10 shows the halEof the accompanying key-board, and also five of the levers of the key-board l, to show their position relatively to the key-board K', the keys of' which are tern inatcel by forks. The lifter l.- p.

in the fork serves to guide them. The said key-board is placed on its frame J2, on the sides of which are fixed two iron bars Y, pivoting on the front by means of two screws V, screwed on the sides U. ll Il, knob for raising the key-board, under which is fixed the pin entering in the rack 'fixed on the front G3 of the drawer T.

G Cr, the pulley-winch; 1G, the cord; I', its adjusting thumb-screw; N, the key pins ofthe key-boards; Q,

pivots ofthe compartments; X, latches-to hold-the drawer open enclosed.

` Plate 2, Figure 7, is aseetion showing how the elementary, transpesing, and accompanying key-boards, made as before described, can be appliedto the large key-board or the keys of an ordinary piano. The compartment holding these elementary and other keyboards is attached by means of two hinged metal slides screwed on the compartment. The supports of the slides c are screwed under the bottom ofthe key-board, and to the slide the compartment is hinged so that it may be slid in under the bottom A" of the piano keyboard, as seen at B B, lig. l', or drawn out, turned up, and supported, as seen at Bf, when raised in front of the instrumerit.. The levers a2 are acted on by the key e', and give motion to thckcy of the key-board d. The levers a2 have their fulcra on the rack 62, fixed to the table C7, divided in two parts, one of which is fixed to the compaigtment and the other connected to it by hinges, thus rendering it movable so that it may be turned over when the parts are lowered dinto the position 13 B.

The two detached figures al@ representthe levers one of which is straight for the Sharps, and the other bent for the natural keys, at the ends of which are tixed regulating screws, carrying knobs acting on the keys of the key-board cl. On the ends of the table CT two screws-bolts are fitted for attaching the parts to the ends ofthe key-board (Z. To give facility to a child for acting upon the pedals of the instrument, I provide a slide, as illustrated in lig. 1, plate 1, containing the levers 2 and 3. This is to be drawn out so taat lthe lever 3 acts on the pedal of the instrument, and the outer end of the lever 2 may be pressed upon by the foot or by n lever, 32 hinged to the slide; which lever 32, when not in use, may be turned up into the position shown by dotted lines, and pushed back into the instrument vwith the slide and levers 2 and 3.

Plate 4, Fig. l2x and figs. l/.f and section and plan of an elementary key-board, placed above an action key-board formed with diagonal or diverging levers passing to the ordinary piano-forte action. By this arrangement a small or elementary kcy-board can be applied to an ordinary piano. The keys f have beneath thc'front end regulating screws, acting on the eounter-keys g, iixed on a frame, and at their rear extremity they act directly on the piano action. B3, bar behind the sharps, fixed to the sides of the frame A, and on which is fixed by hinges the ruleA or musical tableau, fig. 1:2, as before described. The keys may be made short, as seen by the five notes t in tig. 122. and in side view in iig. 12, so that this key-board may be fitted with the solfeggio shown in ng. 12 and iig. 12, plate 4, hereafter described.

Figure 12'* is a transverse section of 1n-elementary key-board fitted to dra-w in and out, but shown as closed and placed behind. the sharps over a piano key-board A3. When it is drawn out the motion from the keys C3 is transmitted to the hammer-jack by the key I, the same as before described; and this key-board may be fitted with the transposing and accompanying movements before described.

Figure 12j is a transverse section of an elementary key-board placed under the bot-tom of the key-board A, and fitted to draw in and out,'and when drawn out the key c5 acts on the lever I, at the extremity of which a. lifter L is fixed that acts under the hammer-jack; or, the same litters L may act beneath the bacl: ends of the keys ofthe key-board A3. The said' key-board may be itted with the solfeggio transposing and accompanying attachments before referred to.

Figure 12k is a section of an elementary key-board, combined with right-angle levers 20, which can be placed in any desired position, either for pressing on the keys of a key-board, or for acting under the hammerjack, or escapement. These are connected together by a rod fixed to the right-angle leviers 2O byjoint-pins or pivots.

Figure 121, elementary key-board, combined with compound levers, that may be' employed for extending the action ofthe piano key-board in place of single levers, such as shown at g, hg. 12X. i The sixth part of my invention relates to a key-board which I term the elementary solfeggio key-board, intended for children. The same is provided with cards, on which are lithographed or printed, designs on one or both sides, showing the name of the note marked in the upper part of the card, and iu the middle the note on the musical scale. At the bottom of said card the place of the given note on the keyboard is indicated; i Plate 4, Figure 12, section of the elementary solfeggio key-board placed above a piano key-board A3, ready for use. Y

Figure 1Qd is a plan view of a part or the said key-board at the bass end. 1, keys of the elementary key@ vboard xed at their extremity by forks on a bar fixed to the sides e of the compartment. 10, a small tablet placed behind the sharps fixed to the sides ofthe compartment, and on which maybe placed the musical tableau, iig. 12, as before described. 2, cross-piece fixed to the front, and on which the key-pins of the key-board 1 are fixed. Under the front end of said keys 1 are fixed regulating screws, which act on the keys of the lever` board 5, placed below. The cards lig. 12.a and iig. 12b are fined in notches at the ends of the levers Twelve i cards form the octave, and they are placed -so as to stand in rows, one slightly in front of the other, and are lifted by the keys of key-board 1, so as to show the name and sound of only the note struck, and thereby amuse the learner as well as present to his eye the name and sound to be learned. 'lhese levers carrying the cards are pivoted so that there are four cards in each group or row. The rack 4l is fixed to the sides e of the con partaient., and forms the fulerum for the levers 3. All octavos in thc whole length of the key-board may be similarly fitted. A counter-key, 5, is 'fixed at-its extremity-by forks on the back of the compartment 11, and.

on its front end a regulating screw istixed on which presses the key 1. The key 5 acts on the counter-key D, placed below to act on theikcy A, or the sharp. Oa the end of the counter-key D is a pin above a coupler or triangular piece E, pivotcd in the sides of ythe compartment, and acted on by means o? the stop H II, to raise the counter-cys I) when required. Under the said lever D is .fixed a knob or regulating screw, which acts on the key of the key-board A3. The diagonal lines, iig. 12", show the positions of the keys 5 extending from the keys 1 of the solfeggio key-boord, also the positions of the levers D, which are placed below them.

Figure 12, an elevation ofthe side of the compartment, and on which is shown a lever that may be employed to act on thc coupler E instead ofthe stop II II.

In iig. 1, plate l, I have shown a vertical section of the improved piano, in which are shown, by corresponding letters of reference, the various key-boards and levers before described. There may be a portable musicstand introduced, as shown at I). At Gr' I have represented the case as broken to show thatv the same may be made of any desired height. i

I do not claim an open frame for the back or bottom of the piano, neither do I claim diagonal levers extending from one octave note to the next. v

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,` is- 1. The'construction of the back or bottom of the piano of round or oval columns F, in combination with an iron frame ct al, and bars A, and the bar b, as and for the purposes specified.

2. I claim the piano action composed of the'levers O', lifter oI and lever OX, applied in the manner specified, so that the same shall be separate from the key-boards, in order that one key-board `may be moved Yaway and another brought into place, as set forth.

3. I claim the anti-friction supports J Il', winch 9, cord 1G, and tightening screw I', in'cembination with the transposing keyboard 1, and rack 17 for moving said key-board with facility and retainingit in place as set forth.

4. I claim the small or elementary key-boards, tted so as to be movable, and applied in the manner specitied, to act upon the same notes as the main key-board, as and for the purposes specified.

5. I claim the caa'ds connected with the respective notes, and raised by the depression of the note,.so as to exhibit the name and sound of the particular note to aid in the instruction of elementary music, as set forth. 6. I claim a series of levers composing the action between the keys and hammers, said action Yconnecting on one line with the keys, and lengthened downward at the bass end, and projected upwards at the treble'end, the intermediate connections being graduated so asto'reach the hammers above the notes at the treble end and below the notes at the bass end, as specied. l

T. J, V. BOZ-z Witnesses E. OHIRIo, E. RATIER. 

